GULFARIUM CARE CENTER:
We are excited to share that three of our rehab patients have been cleared for release! Please join us at 9:00am on Wednesday, June 28th at Inlet Beach as we wish Pear, Grilled Cheese, and Big Bertha the best of luck on their journey back into the Gulf of Mexico. Inlet Beach Beach access on Orange Street.
Pear, a sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle weighing in at 108lbs was accidentally hooked at the Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier on 6/23/2023. After a mild sedation, two fishing hooks were removed from Pear’s mouth and esophagus, now giving Pear a clean bill of health and clearance for release.
Grilled Cheese is also a sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle, weighing only 65lbs. Grilled cheese was accidentally foul hooked at Okaloosa Island Fishing pier on 6/24/2023, with a sabiki and a J-hook in the right front flipper. Both hooks were easily removed and Grilled Cheese is ready to go home!
Big Bertha, an adult female loggerhead weighing in at a whopping 185lbs was accidentally hooked by a shark fisherman on 5/21/2023. Bertha had the large shark fishing hook in her esophagus as well as a small J-hook attached to a metal leader line. In addition, Bertha had entanglement wounds on both front flippers due to previous fishing line entanglement. Bertha’s hooks were removed non-surgically and she continued to receive antibiotics to treat her flipper wounds. After one month of rest and recovery Bertha is cleared for release!
The release will start promptly at 9:00am and will last roughly 10 minutes. The parking lot spaces are limited, so we recommend arriving early as they can fill quickly. We hope to see you there!
Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
Fort Walton Beach Florida
gulfarium.com
We are excited to share that three of our rehab patients have been cleared for release! Please join us at 9:00am on Wednesday, June 28th at Inlet Beach as we wish Pear, Grilled Cheese, and Big Bertha the best of luck on their journey back into the Gulf of Mexico. Inlet Beach Beach access on Orange Street.
Pear, a sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle weighing in at 108lbs was accidentally hooked at the Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier on 6/23/2023. After a mild sedation, two fishing hooks were removed from Pear’s mouth and esophagus, now giving Pear a clean bill of health and clearance for release.
Grilled Cheese is also a sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle, weighing only 65lbs. Grilled cheese was accidentally foul hooked at Okaloosa Island Fishing pier on 6/24/2023, with a sabiki and a J-hook in the right front flipper. Both hooks were easily removed and Grilled Cheese is ready to go home!
Big Bertha, an adult female loggerhead weighing in at a whopping 185lbs was accidentally hooked by a shark fisherman on 5/21/2023. Bertha had the large shark fishing hook in her esophagus as well as a small J-hook attached to a metal leader line. In addition, Bertha had entanglement wounds on both front flippers due to previous fishing line entanglement. Bertha’s hooks were removed non-surgically and she continued to receive antibiotics to treat her flipper wounds. After one month of rest and recovery Bertha is cleared for release!
The release will start promptly at 9:00am and will last roughly 10 minutes. The parking lot spaces are limited, so we recommend arriving early as they can fill quickly. We hope to see you there!
C.A.R.E.
Conserve. Act. Rehabilitate. Educate.
The Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center acts as a beacon for coastal conservation through marine animal rescue and rehabilitation, encouraging awareness with public education and opportunities for active participation.Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
Fort Walton Beach Florida
C.A.R.E Center Is Awarded Funding For Medical Equipment
The Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center has been awarded a grant for $20,306.25 from the Florida Sea Turtle Grants Program. The C.A.R.E Center received the grant to help purchase a new digital radiograph (DR) x-ray machine.
gulfarium.com
